Achtung Baby - 20 Years On

It's been an amazing autumn for music. At least for music I like!

In September R.E.M. announced they were breaking up. Sad news, but they have a compilation of their best songs coming out soon along with some new ones which looks great. I love every 1990s, post-modern, crazy, X Files lyric they have. Definitely Christ College music!

Also in September The Cranberries announced that after 10 years they are finally coming out with another album. While none of their new songs grabs me that much, it reminded me how many great songs they do have.

And then there's my favourite band - the one that has written the soundtrack to my life - U2. October was the 30th anniversary of their early album, October. And now, in November, we have the 20th anniversary of my third favourite U2 album Achtung Baby. When I hear this album I think of college days, late night arguments, freedom, and immense hope. We all were trying to throw our arms around the world. Achtung Baby is the album of my college days, and those were good days.

So, I'm going to post a song a day to have fun remembering this album. The first is Zoo Station - all the craziness of the album summed up in this song. "I'm ready, I'm ready for what's next...
I'm ready to say, I'm glad to be alive." That's how you feel - going off to university, the world is before you - that's how you feel - ready for aything.

I'm ready
Ready for the laughing gas
I'm ready
Ready for what's next
Ready to duck
Ready to dive
Ready to say
I'm glad to be alive
I'm ready
Ready for the push

In the cool of the night
In the warmth of the breeze
I'll be crawling around
On my hands and knees

She's just down the line ... Zoo Station
Got to make it on time ... Zoo Station

I'm ready
Ready for the gridlock
I'm ready
To take it to the street
Ready for the shuffle
Ready for the deal
Ready to let go
Of the steering wheel
I'm ready
Ready for the crush

Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
It's alright ... it's alright ... it's alright ... it's alright
Hey baby ... hey baby ... hey baby ... hey baby ...
It's alright
It's alright

Time is a train
Makes the future the past
Leaves you standing in the station
Your face pressed up against the glass

I'm just down the line from your love ... Zoo Station
Under the sign of your love ... Zoo Station
I'm gonna be there ... Zoo Station
Tracing the line ... Zoo Station
I'm gonna make it on time ... make it on time ... Zoo Station
Just two stops down the line ... Zoo Station
Just a stop down the line ... Zoo Station